Consumers See a World of Contradictions in Emerging Technologies
August 22 2018 - 11:00AM
Business Wire
Intel Study Evaluates the Next 50 Years of
Tech
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
- Consumers see the familiar when they
look far into the future. Over 80 percent report believing that
smartphones and PCs will continue to be important in 50 years.
- Consumers are split on whether
technology will bring them closer together or further apart from
friends and family.
- Consumers have mixed views of
artificial intelligence in the future, and over one-third don’t
believe they use AI today.
Americans are excited about the future potential of technology,
but 40 percent believe emerging technologies will introduce as many
new problems as solutions in the next 50 years. This finding comes
from Intel’s “Next 50” Study of 1,000 consumers, conducted with
research firm PSB, to determine prevailing perceptions about the
future of technology.
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Intel Corporation's "Next 50" Study finds
that consumers are excited about the future potential of
technology, but many believe emerging technologies will introduce
as many new problems as solutions. (Credit: Intel Corporation)
“Emerging technologies have the potential to transform many
aspects of our everyday life,” said Genevieve Bell, director of the
3A Institute, Florence Violet McKenzie Chair and distinguished
professor at the Australian National University, and a vice
president and senior fellow at Intel. “Studies like this remind us
about the diversity of human experience. When we talk about the
future of innovation, we’re talking about a range of ideas,
technologies and attitudes that will impact our lives in important
ways.”
Most Exciting Technologies of the Future
Even as consumers anticipate new technologies, they remain most
excited about those that are most familiar. The survey revealed
that consumers expect to rely most on smartphones (87 percent) in
the future. Consumers also ranked PCs (84 percent) and smart home
technology (84 percent) among the most important technologies in
the next 50 years.
“It’s hard to fathom going a day without using a computer or a
smartphone, both of which will undoubtedly continue to evolve along
with other technologies,” added Bell. “But newer, emerging
technologies like AI and 5G are abstract, and harder to grasp,
likely leading to anxiety around what they may bring.”
Among emerging technologies, consumers reported being the most
excited about those with the potential to improve health, including
genomic medicine (39 percent) and artificial materials for organ or
tissue transplants (26 percent), as well as renewable energy (36
percent).
Parents Excited by AI
Artificial intelligence was especially highly rated by
millennials and parents excited by its potential to assist them in
their daily lives:
- 51 percent of parents expect AI to
increase their quality of life by enhancing and automating everyday
tasks, compared to just 38 percent of respondents without
kids.
- Parents are more excited than
non-parents over AI’s potential to assist with human tasks (46
percent versus 39 percent of non-parents) and predict their needs
(42 percent versus 30 percent of non-parents).
However, many consumers don’t recognize the role AI already
plays in their lives. Despite the proliferation of voice
assistants, predictive algorithms and other common AI applications,
more than one-third (36 percent) of consumers think they do not own
any technologies that use AI.
Anxieties and Opportunities in a World of Connections
While most consumers rely heavily on technology to stay in touch
with friends and family (53 percent), many respondents reported
that they fear people will develop an overdependence on technology
and will spend less time interacting with each other (56
percent).
Further, 37 percent of consumers and 38 percent of tech elites
are concerned people may be isolated from one another when they use
technology.
Despite these anxieties, consumers are still excited by emerging
technologies that could help bring people together and create more
time for connections, such as 5G networks and smart home
technology:
- A significant 61 percent of consumers
are somewhat or very excited about the potential of speedy 5G
communications. Millennials in particular are more optimistic about
the future of 5G, with 45 percent saying it will bring people
closer together by helping them to always be connected, as opposed
to 35 percent for those aged 35 and older.
- Today, only 18 percent of consumers
heavily use technology to manage their homes, but 69 percent expect
to do so within 50 years.
“The possibilities of technology are boundless, but there’s also
a clear responsibility for those creating and developing such
innovations,” continues Bell. “Here at Intel, we’re fully committed
to the next 50 years and beyond of bringing responsible,
life-changing technology to people around the world.”
The “Next 50” Study was sponsored by Intel and developed
by PSB. Read the full report.
Study Methodology
PSB conducted research on behalf of Intel to explore attitudes
and perceptions of technology today and 50 years from now. To meet
these objectives, PSB conducted an online quantitative study from
May 9-20, 2018 among the U.S. general public (n=1000) and U.S.
technology elites (n=102). The U.S. general public were polled to
national census data to ensure a representative sample of the
United States. All technology elites are aged 25 years or older
with at least a college education, have a household income of at
least $100,000 and follow news about technology closely. The margin
of error for the general public total sample is +/- 2.53 percent
and larger for subgroups. The margin of error for the technology
elites total sample is +/- 8.12 percent and larger for subgroups.
PSB, a member of Young & Rubicam Group and the WPP Group, is a
global research-based consultancy specializing in messaging and
communications strategy for blue-chip corporate, political and
entertainment clients. For more information, visit
www.psbresearch.com
About Intel
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) expands the boundaries of technology to
make the most amazing experiences possible. Information about Intel
can be found at newsroom.intel.com and intel.com.
Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in
the United States and other countries.
*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of
others.
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Intel CorporationChelsea Hughes,
503-696-2898chelsea.hughes@intel.com
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